A blog focussing on the stories of several Tyrian adventurers.
These stories are often accompanied by illustrations in varying styles!
To find out more about Tyria and it's heroes, head over to www.guildwars2.com!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

"Having
lived all my live in this city, without purpose - that is why I must go."

Of all the districts that made up
Divinity's Reach, the Eastern Commons certainly was the one Fujiko
despised the most. She was pressed however, not wanting to waste any
time since she had finally decided to venture outside the protective
city walls she had grown so accustomed to.

“How can this abomination of an
orchestra still exist?”, the young woman cursed while plucking some
stray confetti out of her ashen brown hair, “That junk mountain
just had to start blaring when people mentioned Shaemoor.”

The latest tune played by one of the
Eastern Commons' greatest attractions, Uzolan's Mechanical Orchestra,
just finished. Fujiko had already left it several streets behind her,
and yet it still managed to block out most of the city's usual sounds
while it ran. And sadly, a bright someone had decided to have it do
just that non-stop. The little scraps of conversation she had been
able to pick up earlier made her glad however to have chosen the
shortest route, no matter the inconveniences. Confetti stuck in her
hair and clothing, the obnoxious music... they all seemed like petty
troubles now that Fujiko had heard mention of centaurs besieging
Shaemoor.

Just my luck to have those horsemen
attack when I decided to travel there, she thought while pulling
more confetti out of her hair, I hope it hasn't yet been reduced
to ashes, getting to Beetletun or Claypool instead would be
considerably more difficult. She crunched a piece of confetti
with her fingers and flicked it on the weathered cobblestone, Not
like I would be able to arrive there anyway, with an army of centaurs
setting up camp in Shaemoor. I could hardly outrun them, could I?

She smiled dryly, and stopped
abruptly. In her musings she hadn't paid much attention to her
surroundings, but now she realized that she had arrived at the Plaza
of Dwayna. The great gates of Divinity's Reach were already in sight
– and so were the Seraph guards arguing with several merchants.
Unsurprisingly, the gates were closed.

“Just my luck”, Fujiko sighed.

***

By their very nature and by virtue of
their trade, merchants make for excellent shouters. Their cackling
voices mingled together made Fujiko yearn for Uzolan's orchestra's
music instead – she felt sorry for the Seraph they had surrounded.
While approaching the besieged soldiers, she noted a Seraph wearing a
sergeant’s badge exiting the gatehouse and drawing closer. A huge
warhammer resided on his back.

“Sergeant Saberlin, sir!”, the
Seraph guards saluted, “we have-”

At the mention of the man's title, the
attention of the tradesmen immediately snapped towards the new
arrival. Before even finishing their salutations, the guards were
shoved aside by the mob of upset merchants. Sergeant Saberlin,
encircled by the merchants, kept the same grim expression throughout
being swarmed by their questions and complaints.

“I'm sorry, but no civilians are
allowed to exit through those gates right now”, a Seraph said to
Fujiko when she drew closer, not without shooting a helpless glance
towards his superior, “Shaemoor is under attack by centaurs.”

“I gathered as much”, Fujiko
nodded.

She watched the scene playing out in
front of her. The sergeant calmly stood amidst the merchants, letting
their pestering wash over him seemingly uncaring. It didn't look like
he was going to respond any time soon. Fujiko turned back towards the
soldier next to her: He was wearing the typical Seraph plate armour
bearing stylized wings in reverence of the goddess Dwayna, and his
hand rested atop the hilt of his iron sword.

“Can you tell me more about what's
going on at Shaemoor? I only heard people whispering of a centaur
raid, and that's it.”

“I don't know the current state of
battle, but it seems like we are mostly fighting Tamini forces. They
usually raid the farmlands to the south-east of Queensdale. Them
being here must mean that they have broken through our primary line
of defence in the Krytan Freeholds...”

Fujiko mustered the guard, her head
slightly tilted: “You seem troubled. Is it that bad?”

“I'm sorry, that's not – well,
yes, it is that bad but... I was thinking, if the centaurs are here,
what of the garrisons in the Freeholds? What – what of Beetletun?”

What a Seraph, Fujiko remarked
snarkily, to so readily calm and
comfort the citizenry. Though I guess that actually makes him a prime
example of what a soldier of his order should be like.

“Don't worry too much,”, she put on a reassuring smile, “the centaurs probably just managed to slip
by. I mean, when have they ever managed to break one of our
garrisons' walls? As for Beetletun... it is heavily fortified as
well, and remember: The Ministry Guard's presence is especially
strong there.”

“The Ministry Guard? They won't set
foot outside Caudecus' manor should the centaurs lay fire to
Beetletun!”, the Seraph soldier spat, “Nobles are all they care
about.”

He might be right about that,
Fujiko thought. The Ministry Guard, while a well-armed force,
usually cared little for the common folk. It still seemed unlikely
for them to let Beetletun burn to the ground, though – after all,
legate minister Caudecus had made quite an investment in turning it
into one of Kryta's most influential settlements.

After a little moment of silence, the
Seraph continued grimly: “Also, the centaurs have breached the
walls of Shaemoor garrison. Otherwise, how could they have entered
Shaemoor itself?”

“Horses still can swim, can't
they?”, Fujiko said, slightly frowning. Maybe it actually is the
time to start worrying.

“Some of them crossed the stream,
surely, but the gates of Shaemoor garrison were torn down by their
catapults. It was through there that the bulk of their forces could
enter Shaemoor”, the Seraph grimaced, “They could have hardly
slipped by our defences to the east while transporting siege engines,
could they now? Probably they brought down the eastern garrisons just
as easily... and I doubt they were lucky enough to have a captain
close by to turn the tide, like in our case.”

Her question was interrupted by a loud
cracking noise. Startled, she noticed that the merchants had gone
silent.

A single voice rose up: “Everyone of
you is free to leave this city. Know that I would gladly hand each of
you a weapon on your way out – however. since you will die in a
matter of seconds once outside these gates they would just be looted
off your mutilated corpses by our enemies. I'd rather not hand them
our steel as easily.”

The merchants had backed off, giving
Fujiko a clear view on the sergeant in his winged Seraph armour. He
held his warhammer in his hands, his grim stare bearing down on the
merchants.

I wonder if that's how he keeps
himself steeled for battle, Fujiko thought when she noticed the
broken cobblestones to his feet, They certainly seem more solid
than centaur skulls.

***

Either intimidated
by his words, or frightened by his display of strength, the merchants
held their tongues. Some of them grumbled inaudibly, but none raised
their voices again.

One of the Seraph
guards stepped forward: “Uh, I want to add that this situation will
be under control soon.”, she said shyly, “Captain Thackeray
himself has joined battle. Just stay calm and wait. I'm sure you will
be able to leave shortly.”

“And then
there's that, too”, the sergeant nodded, “There's really no need
to make so much noise about leaving the city – unless you have a
death wish, that is.”

“And
then there's that, too”, Fujiko grinned widely, striding towards
the sergeant, “however, I would still like to take you up on your
previous offer. I even have my own weapon, you see, so there's
nothing for you to lose.”

Sergeant Saberlin
mustered the young woman who had suddenly spoken up, and who was now
walking towards him – of Canthan descent, she had ashen brown hair
which was cut short in the front, and then fell down to her chin at
the sides. The hair at her back was bound in a single ponytail, which
protruded slightly to the left. She wore plain leather garments –
with the odd addition of a heavy hood –, and on her hip she carried
a dagger sheathed in a simple scabbard.

“Even with your
own weapon you will hardly survive.”, he scoffed. She was at least
two heads shorter than him, with a rather scrawny physique.

“But
I'm free to leave anyway, right?”, Fujiko responded defiantly. She
might have to look up to him, now that she was standing in front of
him, but she wouldn't let herself be intimidated either way. Most
of all not by a Seraph. Besides, I have an audience to please,
Fujiko smirked, aware of the bystanding merchants' and Seraph's
gazes.

“The centaurs
won't die just because you pester them, girl. There are other places
to play smart. Leave.”

“But they will
die when I stab them. And even if they don't, who knows, I could
always try to outrun them. 'Outrunning a centaur', sounds good, no?”

The sergeant
clenched his jaw, and gripped Fujiko by her shoulder: “Girl, having
lived your life in this city you don't seem to understand that we are
at war.” Fujiko squirmed, but the sergeant strengthened his grip:
“To you, this is all just a joke, right? Well, it isn't. But since
you are so intent on leaving the city – I don't care anymore. Go
out there and die. That will make a great joke, right?”, he
released his iron grip and shoved Fujiko towards the gates, “People
like you disgust me.”

Fujiko caught
herself and spun around, teeth gritted. Her right shoulder had almost
gone numb from the sergeant's grip, but she would never show him her
pain. “People like me? What do you know of people,
cobblestone-slayer?”, she hissed, “I will go out there: Having
lived all my live in this city, without purpose – that is why I must go! And I will come back! I -”

Stupid,
Fujiko cursed at herself, stupid, pathetic! Getting all
riled up by a Seraph warmonger! You want him to sympathize with you,
to understand? Just shut up!

Sergeant
Saberlin remained silent for a while, mustering Fujiko's now
impassive face. Her dark, slanted eyes revealed her inner fury,
however, though at who it was directed he couldn't tell. He spoke,
softly this time: “Come, I will tell the guards to let you outside.
But first, calm yourself. Fighting in anger is the surest way to
Grenth's realm.”

Thursday, May 31, 2012

As I shortly mentioned in the very first post, the stories I will begin publishing soon will not focus on my three planned out characters I just introduced. Guild Wars 2 has not yet launched, and the only time I can play the game is during the rather short Beta Weekend Events. Since it's a beta, any progress we make will be wiped - I therefore decided to try to not spoiler myself too much and created characters decidedly different from those I plan to roll on launch. For example, the charr I avoid altogether for now.

So, while I might eventually start developing my three launch heroes' backgrounds (before launch), for now I will retell the adventures experienced by my beta characters.

Everyone, say hi to Fujiko and Ragnar!

Fujiko is a charming female thief of Canthan descent. She has grown up among common folk and regrets never having known her parents.
She was known as quite the tomboy in the orphanage in Salma's District, however a Canthan couple wanted to take in a girl who shared their heritage - so Fujiko was adopted, despite her rotten attitude.
Struggling with her past, she did not know how to react to those new parents and the kindness they showed her... eventually, she decided to respond in the way she knew best (i.e. troublemaking).

Though now that she decided to venture outside Divinity's Reach, the one or two tricks she picked up during her escapades certainly came in handy.

Ragnar is your average boastful, ferocious norn ranger. He fiercely believes in Wolf and always keeps his packmate close-by. He often judges other individuals based on their strength (and their strength only), and well... he thinks himself a very strong drinker, even though him regularly blacking out during moots should be evidence enough to prove the opposite. He won't hear of it though, and rather covers "the lying accusant" in nasty bruises.

Due to his father's reputation, his
superiors decided to train him in martial combat and to suppress his
magical talents. Skilled in the use of axe and dagger, he and Reeva
stumbled across an ancient Ascalonian tomb during a mission.
Surprisingly devoid of Ascalonian spirits, the tomb reeked of magic
different from the Foefire. It was there that Krall communed with the
sane spirit of an old Tyrian hero, taking her skull with him and thus
keeping a link to her as his spirit guide.

Dungeoneering's fun.

She helped him in awakening his latent
powers, and when he returned his superiors could only accept the fact
that he now knew how to wield magic.

He has always had a curious streak and
due to how others treat him as a “shaman's offspring” he tries
his best to keep his dignity, as to prove the opposite to himself at
least. Ever since he came in contact with the hero's spirit, he has
understood that most truths are not as simple as people make them out
to be. He's very well aware of the Elder Dragon's presence and the
threat they pose, in turn rendering him extremely annoyed at the
petty squabbles between different warbands, legions, and races even.

Rajj:

Makes boo-kahs go kah-boo-m!

Male ferocious asuran engineer wearing
eagle-eye-goggles, member of the College of Dynamics with Bonk as his
first advisor, and the Infinity Ball as his first invention.

He is extremely small, even for asuran
standards, which is especially true for his ears. He's not even
especially smart! In general it seems like there's nothing special
about him; rather, you can hear others saying, everything about him
seems sub-par.

Not so in Rajj's opinion of course –
with an ego rivalling that of a giant, and armed with a rage that
would make even a god of war pale in comparison, he will blow any of
those jealous idiots to smithereens! They only envy him, seeing him
make his enemies explode and combust in oh-so-many ways while they
are bound to stay in their workshops, hunched over technomagical
gimmicks no one needs!

(Right now this character seems like
“the comic relief guy”, but as I don't like the fact that ANet
seems to have taken the entire asuran race in that direction I'll
make sure he will become a more serious character. Still, him being
less intelligent and more interested in the explosive charr side of
technology, allows me to write him more like a normal human. I admit
I don't like their constant technobabble too much.)

Danica and her big sister lived their
lives as street urchins. Although her big sister tried her best to
provide for her younger sibling and protect her, Danica has made many
jarring experiences which shaped her into someone ferociously defending
what little she possessed. She also made contact with the
clandestinity and peculiar individuals such as Quinn.

When she was around 15 years old, her
sister earned herself a position in the Seraph force and the two
finally escaped from the streets. However, Danica did not cut her
ties to her old life – considering her friendship with Quinn one of
her most valuable possessions, she would rather die than leave him
behind.

Meanwhile, one of her sister's first
missions had her joining a raid on several merchants dealing illegal
goods. Incidentally, Danica and Quinn were also present, and the two
siblings wound up fighting. Danica's big sister feigned being
overwhelmed by the two and allowed them to escape, later on
confronting Danica (who at that time did not know that she had fought
her sister, as she had been concealed by the heavy Seraph armour),
demanding that she cut the ties with her past.

The two had a large fallout, and
shortly after Danica's sister became a member of the Falcon Company,
dying soon after in a centaur ambush.

Hello everyone and welcome to “Roaming
Tyria”, a blog where Tyrian wayfarers will talk about their most
recent endeavours!

So, what exactly does this mean?

With this blog I want to create a place
where I can talk about and develop my Guild Wars 2 characters. A lot
of this will include story elements developed on my own, outside of
what the game has to offer in regards to personal stories. However, my characters' (hi)stories were conceived
with the background options proposed in Guild Wars 2 in mind, and as I
will also include happenings in the game in my stories this blog will
most definitely include spoilers.

As an example: I designed my charr
necromancer as an Ash legionnaire with a sorcerous shaman as his
father. While I will definitely extend his background to include many
more (out-of-game) elements, these two points are still fundamental
to his character. When I play the game and experience
these stories, I intend to talk about them on here as well –
though obviously some stuff will get changed around, and I most
definitely won't keep the game's original dialogue.

The point still stands though, if you
read the story of my charr necromancer, you will get spoiled in
regards to the personal story steps I take.

I will categorize the posts so that
everyone will be able to easily follow a single character's story. At
some point, stories might converge, in which case they will be tagged
for all the related characters.

I will also try to make sure to clearly
state what personal story decisions I took beforehand, so that
everyone can decide by themselves whether they want to continue
reading or want to wait until they have reached that story arc
themselves.

Now, the interesting stuff:

I have three characters planned out for
launch already. Rajj, an asuran engineer, a rather young human
guardian called Danica and my main character, a charr necromancer
called Krall Blightfur.

Consequently he will be the most
heavily featured one (at least in the beginning. You never know what
might happen).

However, as the game has not yet launched I will not start playing any of these three characters. While I might start talking about their background soon, the first stories I will publish on this blog are those of my beta characters!